Shock on the cards? Madison Keys hands Iga Swiatek 'breadstick' set to force decider at Australian Open
WTA
Is a shock on the cards in the semi-finals of the 2025 Australian Open as Madison Keys has just hit back emphatically to force a deciding set against Iga Swiatek and is currently in the ascendancy.
Keys eased through the second to open up her own bakery that Swiatek herself knows so well. She handed her what they call a 'breadstick' which is where a player wins a set 6-1. She has since gone 1-0 up in the decider holding serve so the real acid test will be whether Keys can break to force any pressure.
With a final between Swiatek and Sabalenka within touching distance, Keys will do her best to make sure that she figures in that conversation. She has already returned to the top 10 at least after this week and alongside Ben Shelton made sure that it was two American's in a semi-final for the first time since 2009.
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But the real onus now is whether she can stop the seemingly unstoppable aside from when facing the big names, Iga Swiatek. She has barely been troubled thus far in particular easing past Emma Raducanu, Eva Lys and Emma Navarro. Many thought Keys would be a walk in the park again but she is providing the resolute defence.
She has broke Swiatek seven times in two sets of tennis and could be en route to a huge shock.
Wow.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 23, 2025
Madison Keys takes the second set 6-1 to force a decider vs. Iga Swiatek at the #AusOpen semifinals.
The world #2 is in the wrong side of the bakery product this time… pic.twitter.com/Db8gBEZJ8O

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Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
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